design-system
v1.0.0Build design systems with tokens, components, and documentation that scale across teams and products.
Installation
Setup
On first use, read setup.md for integration guidelines. All preferences are stored in ~/design-system/memory.md.
When to Use
User needs to create, maintain, or extend a design system. Agent handles token architecture, component patterns, documentation structure, and cross-platform consistency.
Architecture
Memory lives in ~/design-system/. See memory-template.md for structure.
~/design-system/
├── memory.md # Status + context + decisions
└── tokens/ # Token definitions if exported
Quick Reference
| Topic | File |
|---|---|
| Setup process | setup.md |
| Memory template | memory-template.md |
Core Rules
1. Tokens First, Components Second
Design tokens are the foundation. Before building any component: - Define color tokens (semantic, not raw hex) - Define spacing scale (consistent multiplier) - Define typography scale (modular)
Components consume tokens. Never hardcode values.
2. Semantic Over Literal Naming
| Bad | Good |
|---|---|
blue-500 |
primary |
14px |
text-sm |
8px |
space-2 |
Semantic names survive rebrand. Literal names break everything.
3. Three-Tier Token Architecture
Primitive → Semantic → Component
↓ ↓ ↓
gray-900 text-primary button-text
- Primitive: Raw values (colors, sizes)
- Semantic: Meaning-based (primary, danger, muted)
- Component: Specific use (button-bg, card-border)
4. Document Decisions, Not Just Specs
Every token and component needs: - What: The value or pattern - When: Usage context - Why: The decision behind it - When NOT: Anti-patterns to avoid
5. Platform-Agnostic Source of Truth
Design tokens should export to: - CSS custom properties - Tailwind config - iOS/Android native - Figma variables
One source, many outputs. Use Style Dictionary or similar.
6. Component API Consistency
All components follow the same patterns:
- Same prop naming (variant, size, disabled)
- Same size scale (sm, md, lg)
- Same variant names (primary, secondary, ghost)
Predictability beats cleverness.
7. Versioning and Migration
Breaking changes need: - Version bump (semver) - Migration guide - Deprecation warnings before removal - Codemods when possible
Common Traps
- Premature abstraction → Build 3 instances before extracting a pattern
- Token explosion → 50 grays is not a system, it is chaos
- Skipping documentation → Undocumented patterns get reimplemented wrong
- Designing for edge cases first → Cover 80% well before 100% poorly
- No dark mode strategy → Retrofit is 10x harder than planning upfront
- Inconsistent spacing → Use a scale (4px base), not arbitrary values
- Component prop sprawl → More than 10 props means split the component
Security & Privacy
Data that stays local: - Design decisions in ~/design-system/ - Token definitions and component specs
This skill does NOT: - Access files outside ~/design-system/ - Make network requests - Store sensitive data
Related Skills
Install with clawhub install <slug> if user confirms:
- css — Styling fundamentals
- tailwindcss — Utility-first CSS
- frontend — Frontend development
- ui — User interface patterns
- design — Design principles
Feedback
- If useful:
clawhub star design-system - Stay updated:
clawhub sync